1. Appearance
     Sexual Dimorphism  

2. Behaviour and Ecology

3. Environmental Conditions

4. See also

5. References

Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi, or spiny flower mantis, is a small Flower Mantis ({{convert|1.5|in|disp=or}}) {{Verify source|date=March 2018}} native to southern and eastern Africa.

Appearance

The adult has spiny structures on the underside of its abdomen, giving it its name. It is variable in colour, being typically greenish, but it can equally be yellowish, pinkish, or reddish. It has a striking spiral "9" mark on its forewings providing a conspicuous eyespot in black, green and cream surrounded by a green patch. The hind wings are orange on the inner part and transparent on the outer part. Nymphs start out black, similar to ants

Sexual Dimorphism

While very similar, female, and male spiny flower mantids can be told apart. Females have small spines by the edges of their elytra and six to seven segments on their abdomen. Females also tend to have slightly shorter antennae, longer wings, and take seven moults to reach maturity. On the other hand, males do not have the spines on their elytra, have eight abdominal segments, shorter wings, longer antennae and will take six moults to reach maturity^[1]

Behaviour and Ecology

P. wahlbergi has a deimatic display in which it spreads its forewings, making itself appear larger and prominently displaying its eyespots to startle would-be predators. While at rest it is well camouflaged, and is a sufficiently good aggressive mimic of a flower that prey insects can attempt to pollinate it, at which moment the mantis seizes and eats them. They tend to eat flying insects and spiders but can eat almost any insect if hungry.

Environmental Conditions

The species is common in captivity and is easy to rear. In the wild the mantis lives at temperatures from 25 °C to 30 °C (77 °F to 86 °F) during the day. At night, it can handle a lower temperature of at least 18 °C (64.4 °F).

While P. wahlbergi is tolerant to a range of humidity - with an ideal humidity of 60% - but too much moisture can be fatal to the mantis as it is able to cause infections. They need water often but can get most of it from the prey they eat.^[2]

After breeding, the female can eat her mate because, like with most mantis species, they are cannibalistic. Nymphs up to their fourth instar are not cannibalistic. The female lay egg cases (ootheca) almost three times its size,^[3] and will usually hatch between 30 to 50 offspring.^[4] Ootheca survive in the same conditions as the mantis.

See also

• List of mantis genera and species
• Flower mantis

References

• Economic community
• Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries
• Economic Community of Western African States
• Economic compass
• Economic Complexity Index
• Economic confidence model
• Economic Confidence Model
• Economic consulting
• Economic consumer
• Economic consumption
• Economic Co-operation Organisation
• Economic corporatism
• Economic corridor
• Economic Council Germany
• Economic Crime Directorate
• Economic crisis and response in the Philippines
• Economic crisis in Greece
• Economic crisis of Ireland
• Economic delegation
• Economic democracy
• Economic depressions
• Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec
• Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico
• Economic Development Bank of Puerto Rico
• Economic Development Board (South Australia)